1887.] xew yokk academy of sciences. 139 



descriptions of new species of birds of the families 

 sylviid^, troglodytid^ and tyrannid^. by 

 George N. Lawrence. 



(Published in the Annals, Vol, ) 



Mr. George F. Kunz read the following papers : 



(a.) on JADE AND JADEITE. 



In illustration of this paper a large nnraber of objects were 

 exhibited. A gigantic jadeife votive adze, from Oaxaca, Mexico, 

 is described as follows : 



This jadeite adze of Mexican origin is, as far as the writer has 

 been able to ascertain, the largest yet found, and is notable not 

 only for its great size, but also for its peculiar character and the 

 excellence of the working in so hard a material. It is said to 

 have been found about twenty years ago in Oaxaca, Mexico. It 

 measures 272 mm. (10|f incjhes) in length, 153 mm. (6 inches) 

 in width, and 118 mm. (4f inches) in thickness, and it weighs 

 229.3 oz. Troy. Across the ears 153 mm. (6 inches), across the 

 lower axe end 82 mm. (3f inches), height of head to neck 158 

 mm. (6^ inches), height from chin to foot 115 mm. (4^ inches), 

 and the legs 50 mm. (2 inches). The piece removed at the back is 

 160 mm. (5 inches) long and 50 mm. (2 inches) wide. The color is 

 a light grayish green, with streaks of an almost emerald green on the 

 back. In style of ornamentation it very closely resembles a gigan- 

 tic adze of granite (57 cm. long and 34 cm. wide) mentioned by 

 A. Chavero in the Mexico d. iraves d. Los Siglas, 1886, p. 64, 

 and has almost an identical counterpart in the avanturine quartz 

 adze now forming part of the Christy collection at the British 

 Museum, and formerly in the possession of Mr. Percy Doyle, of 

 the English Diplomatic Service ; differing from these two ob- 

 jects, however, in having no ornamentation on the forehead, 

 and having in addition four dull markings on each ear, and un- 

 der each eye, and one near each hand, which seemingly could 

 have served no other purpose than to hold thin plates or films 

 of gold, which the polished surfaces would not do. Of the gold 

 used here no trace can at present be seen. 



From all appearances, this adze is the result of the shaping of 



